[Fe-head]

Hello. New here. Bought a '72 XLCH Ironhead last November. Semi-basketcase. Fortunately the engine was intact and in the frame. The bike had been sitting since 1984. Put it back together, got it running, new brakes, shorter shocks. The paint was toast, did flat black wet sanded with 1000 grit paper, rubbed out, looks like old paint, fits the bike.
Three Bendix carbs came with the bike, finally put one together that works. Nothing fancy, just an old looking bike. Kick start only. I believe it may be ready for a test ride.

 

[candyman1340]

Nice Bike.
Welcome to the forum from Connecticut.

 

[Chief191]

Great intro and project you have been working on. Welcome from Oregon.

 

[Fe-head]

Thank you all. I'm in Tacoma, not far from Oregon. It's what I could afford, thankfully it didn't have any big, expensive mechanical issues besides needing brake shoes and a brake drum which I traded a gas tank for. The primary cover was bent and cracked, leaked terrible, a replacement cover came with the bike so only a gasket was needed. The previous owner tore some things apart, was going to restore the bike in 1984 but didn't get around to it so it sat for 40 years, luckily indoors so no rust or corrosion. It starts easy, seems to run good, doesn't smoke or leak oil. Trans and clutch work. The thing I like is that it doesn't have computers, fuel injection, anti-lock brakes and all the modern things I can't work on. It's points, coil, carburetor, generator...simple machine.

 

[DRVMN]

Greetings from Minnesota! Great project! Definitely keep everyone up-to-date. We love pictures too!!!

 

[Boog]

Hello @Fe-head and welcome from Virginia. I would love to see a few more photos of this beauty. Maybe even some during the build if you got them.

 

[harvey13118]

Welcome from South end of Owasco Lake

 

[Wooden Rat]

Welcome from Alabama

 

[loubob]

Welcome from savannah GA. Cool project bike. Envy you!

 

[boba fat]

Welcome from CenTex

 

[Convince Me]

Welcome from the great Mojave desert. I'm no planning Northwest this summer.

 

[Dustdevil]

Welcome from the Sonoran desert. Nice job on that machine Bro!

 

[gtrman66]

Welcome... and might I say, that may be the coolest username I have seen in a while.

 

[tommytailspin]

welcome fe head from s.e. kansas. great ole bike, great find, great job on paint too. inexpensive and it is a perfect match for the scoot. simple early harley. it will teach you a bunch about their scoots and be fun to maintain yourself. ya may end up on a bagger but keep the first one just to run to town 80mph for some ice cream. stick around iron head and have some fun. we are glad to have you with us.

 

[Fe-head]

Thank you everyone for the welcome. I owned and wrenched on many bikes in the past, was big into 1960s Triumphs for a long time. The only Harley I ever owned was a 45 cu.in. flat-head trike back in the 1980s. Retired now and needed a project to keep busy. Here are some pictures of the bike when it came home. Fortunately the motor was intact, wiring was stock, most parts were there along with some extras. It was last on the road in 1983. The extra wheels are from an old BMW (?), sold those.

 

[candyman1340]

That turtle tank is worth some $$$.
Rarely see 'em , even at swap meets.

 

[VR6]

Hello. New here. Bought a '72 XLCH Ironhead last November. Semi-basketcase. Fortunately the engine was intact and in the frame. The bike had been sitting since 1984. Put it back together, got it running, new brakes, shorter shocks. The paint was toast, did flat black wet sanded with 1000 grit paper, rubbed out, looks like old paint, fits the bike.
Three Bendix carbs came with the bike, finally put one together that works. Nothing fancy, just an old looking bike. Kick start only. I believe it may be ready for a test ride. View attachment 825083

I owned that exact year sporty mine was also a basket. RH shift gets a bit of getting used to. Those drum brakes don't stop real fast, just saying. I enjoyed mine, I put electric starter on mine. Laced a 16" rear wheel put the fatest continetal tire on rear, chain just missed tire lol, Conti on front, did rear shocks as well. You have to dremel case for starter, ring gear should already be on clutch basket if you want to c h ange it. PIA but easier on kicker foot. Alot of memories on that bike. Nice job!

 

[English Triker]

Greetings from England
Congrats on the rebuild glad it aint cost ya a fortune getting it to this condition

 

[Fe-head]

That turtle tank is worth some $$$.
Rarely see 'em , even at swap meets.

Yeah, it came with the bike. Tried to sell it on CL but no luck. I needed a rear brake drum, a local collector contacted me and traded a new chrome brake drum ($230) for the turtle tank so it's gone now. I considered putting it on the bike but didn't really care for the look, I like the stock sportster tank better.

 

[Fe-head]

I owned that exact year sporty mine was also a basket. RH shift gets a bit of getting used to. Those drum brakes don't stop real fast, just saying. I enjoyed mine, I put electric starter on mine. Laced a 16" rear wheel put the fatest continetal tire on rear, chain just missed tire lol, Conti on front, did rear shocks as well. You have to dremel case for starter, ring gear should already be on clutch basket if you want to c h ange it. PIA but easier on kicker foot. Alot of memories on that bike. Nice job!

Thank you. I owned a number of old Triumphs in the past, I know about sketchy drum brakes and RH shift. I don't plan on doing any modifications on this bike, just going to leave it stock. I did put on shorter shocks and raised the rear fender a bit to lower the bike so I reach the ground better. I'd like electric start but it takes a lot of work and money to do that conversion. Got this bike tuned so it starts easily enough. I do have an Edelbrock Quicksilver carb I'm going to try on this engine though. Maybe forward controls if the parts turn up for cheap.